Heat-treatment of webs of textile materials



Feb 28, 1950 w. G. HELMUS HEATTREATMENT 0F WEBS 0F TEXTILE MATERIALS 4Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 9, 1947 INVENTOR.

W'eldan G-HeZmw BY a,

Feb. 28, 1950 w. G. HELMUS HEAT-TREATMENT 0F WEBS OF TEXTILE MATERIALSFiled Dec. 9, 1947 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR WeZa an 67191222215 few wfiflffi Feb. 28, 1950 w. e. HELMUS 2,499,141

HEAT-TREATMENT 0F WEBS OF TEXTILE MATERIALS Filed Dec. 9, 1947 4Sheets-Sheet 3 I V 1 I All] Q & a ti. 1*, I W I Ln QM a I]! I. 3 x

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Weldzm 6. ffelmus BY @ui flaw? Feb. 28, 1950 w. cs. HELMUSHEAT-TREATMENT 0F WEBS 0F TEXTILE MATERIALS 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Dec.9, 1947 INVENTOR- Wddm 517591222115 do rneyj Patented Feb. 28, 1950HEAT-TREATMENT F WEBS OF TEXTILE MATERIALS Weldon G. Helmus, Rldgewood,N. J., assignor to Fair Lawn Finishing Company, a corporation of NewJersey Application December 9, 1947, Serial No. 790,879

17 Claims.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in theheat-setting of textile materials.

Certain woven fabrics consisting of or containing fibers made of certainsynthetic materials, and notably polyamides, are deficient, inter alla,in hand, drape and resilience. In order to overcome such deficiency andimprove the characteristics of these fibers, particularly with a view ofputting to use the otherwise advantageous properties thereof, such asstrength of fiber and elasticity, a "setting treatment is resorted to.This setting treatment as hitherto practiced usually comprises afinishing step for the fabric, consisting of or containing syntheticpolyamide fiber, and involves the heating of the fabric by pressing thesame against a heated surface with substantially constant pressurebetween the fabric and the heated surface until the temperature of thefabric reaches a point just below the fusion point of the polyamide.Usually this involves heating of the fabric to an excess of 190 C. up toa temperature ordinarily not substantially exceeding -25 C. below thefusion point of the polyamide. The heating of the fabric under pressureto within the desired or prefered temperature or temperature range forthe particular specific type of polyamide is ordinarily of shortduration in the order of not exceeding 60 seconds. Many of thepolyamides can be satisfactorily set, however, at the treatingtemperature within a period of the order of, for instance, -15 seconds.The treating conditions are critical in their interrelation withinrelatively confined limits and relatively small increases beyond theselimits of the heating period, treating temperatures or pressure mayseriiously impair the strength of the fibers.

Various means have been proposed in the past to accomplish asatisfactory setting of polyamide fiber materials on a production basis,utilizing the aforedescribed method. In one device suggested for thispurpose the fabric is passed between two heated surfaces, such as twoheated rollers, between which the fabric is placed under a predetermineduniform pressure over its entire width. Another device proposes themovement of the fabric along a stationary heated surface by means of abelt. In still another device the fabric web is carried over a roll,being pressed onto the same by a heated substantially stationary sleeveor shoe.

The hitherto proposed method and devices for the setting of polyamidefabrics are relatively cumbersome and inefllcient in commercialopertively low operational output usually not materially exceeding 4-5yards per minute.

One object of the instant invention comprises, inter alla, a device forthe efficient, high speed, heat-setting of textile materials andparticularly the heat-setting of textile materials containing orconsisting of polyamides.

Anther object of the invention comprises an eillcient high speed devicefor the heat-setting of textile material and particularly theheat-setting of textile materials containing or consisting of polyamidefibers.

The foregoing and further objects of the invention will appear from thefollowing description read in conjunction with the drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a cross-sectional front view, partly broken away, of a.construction in accordance with the invention as shown in Fig. 2 and inthe plane II thereof;

Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional side view of the construction shown in Fig.l in the plane II-II thereof, showing additionally the front portion ofthe device as well as cooling, feed and take-up arrangement;

Fig. 3 is a side view of part of the construction shown in Figs. 1 and 2with part of the side of the outer housing broken away;

Fig. 4 is a top view of part of the constructionv shown in Fig. 2 in theplane IV-IV thereof;

Figs. 5 and 6 are side and stop views respectively illustrating detailsof the driving arrangement for the rollers and scrolls forming part ofthe construction shown in the preceding figures; and

Fig. 7 is a top view showing details of part of the driving arrangementfor the cooling and pick-up roll as illustrated in Fig. 2.

The procedure involved in the application of a. device in accordancewith the invention essentially comprises the passing of a web ofheatsettable textile fabric, while in substantially an extended state,through a heating zone, substantially at a. rate of travel of about36-144 yards per minute linear speed, substantially contlnuouslydirecting heating gas current, while at a predetermined temperature, andin the case of polyamide fabric preferably of about 400-450 1 onto saidweb, while travelling through said heating zone, substantially uniformlyover the width thereof and over a length of web to substantially exposeeach portion of the moving web to said heating gas current for from 1 to10 seconds, and substantially immediately thereafter passing said websubstantially continuously out of said heating zone and preferablysubjecting the same to cooling.

Within the preferred procedure, as applied to a polyamide fabric web,the same is passed in substantially extended state into the heating zoneonto an endlessly travelling web supporting carrier therein, whichcarrier substantially moves at a rate of travel of about 36-144 yardsper minute linear speed, and the web supporting surface of which ismaintained at a temperature of about 400-450 F. The heating gas currentis then substantially continuously directed withinlthe heating zone uponthe surface of the fabric, substantially during the period while thesame is essentially carrier supported. The preferred application of theheating gas current is substantially in a direction transverse to thesurface of the moving fabric web. In the event a roll is selected as thecarrier for the fabric web within the heating zone, the direction of theheating gas current is essentially in a plane or planes substantiallyradial to the circumference of the roll.

The term heat-settable fabric or similar expression used herein isintended to designate any textile material containing or consisting offibers capable of being set, (i. e. fixed) by the application of heat,into desired condition of modified characteristics.

Wherever in the specification and claims reference is made to polyamidefabrics or fibers or where such similar expression is used, the same isintended to connote any fabric or fiber consisting of or containingpolyamide fibers and specifically polyamide fibers of synthetic linearpolyamides.

As illustrated in the drawings, two rolls, I and 2 respectively, aremounted within an outer housing 3. A branched housing 4 is mountedwithin the outer housing 3 and extends into curved branches defining theducts and 5a. The inner surfaces 6 and 6a of ducts 5 and 5a define aheating space above the corresponding surface portions of the rolls Iand 2. The inner surfaces 6 and 6a of the ducts 5 and 5a carry thenozzles I and la extending longitudinally of the surfaces of theirrespective rolls. The ends of the ducts 5 and 5a are curved downwardlyending in nozzles 8 and 8a. Bailles 9, 9a and I6 and Illa respectivelyare arranged within inner housing 4 to properly direct heating gas tothe various nozzles in the branched ducts. Ducts 5 and 6a each carrybranched portions II and Ila respectively continuing as ducts I2 and I2awhich end in the fiared openings I3 and I311. The axles I4 and Ma ofrolls I and 2 pass respectively through the fiared ends I3 and I3a andthe adjacent portions of ducts I2 and I2a. In this manner the flaredends I3 and I3a open into the center of the rolls I and 2.

A fan I5 mounted on shaft I6 and driven by the chain drive II from, forinstance a motor (not shown), is mounted inside the neck I8 01' thehousing 4. Hinged baflles I9 and I9a inside housing 4 permit adjustmentof air flow through the branched portions created by the bailies 9 and9a respectively.

The front portion 20 of housing 3 carries the trough section 2I havingthe slotted aperture 22 supported by the rounded angle portions 22.Pairs of opposing burners 24 and 24a respectively are provided in therear portion of the outer housing 3, being supported by U brackets 80, abolted to angle bracket 8|, 8Ia. These are the conventional gas burnersof the Venturi type comprising injector extensions 82, 82a, flared,perforated inner tubes 83, 83a and outer tubes 84, 64a carrying airinlets 85, 8541. Each pair of burners on the same side is supplied withfuel gas by way of suitable connections such as pipe 25 and branchedpipe 26 (Fig. 3).

A frame structure 28 is secured to the front portion 20 ofhousing 3 andincludes cross-sup-' ports 29, 30 and 30a and floor supports 3| and 3Ia.The frame structure supports cooling roll 32, shaft 33 for fabric feedroll 34, shaft 35 for fabric pickup roll 36 and guide rolls 69, I0 andI2. Auxiliary frame 305 at one side of the frame structure carries thegears 38, 39 and sprockets 31, 40 and 40a on shafts 31a and 39a (Fig. 7)As illustrated in Figs. 2 and 7, shaft 35 is driven through chain 63 bysprocket 31 on shaft 31a, which in turn is driven by the gear 38 meshingwith gear 39 On shaft 39a driven by sprocket 46, chain M, and sprocket42 secured to the shaft I4 of roll I. A second sprocket 46a. on shaft39a behind gear 39 drives through chain 43 and sprocket 44 the coolingroll 32.

As may be seen from Figs. 2 and 3, the outer housing 3 carries theclosed side walls 45, rear wall 46, front wall 20, top wall 41 andbottom wall 48. Thus the entire housing 3 is completely enclosed on allsides with the exception of the slot 22 for the passing of a fabric webinto the housing and the removal of the fabric therefrom. The top 41 ofthe outer housing 3 carries the fan exhaust 21.

The inner branched housing 4 carries the sides 49 thereby defining acompletely closed duct system for a heating gas entering through theopen neck I6 and forced out through the nozzle openings 1.10.8 and 8a.

The construction of the heating rolls is illustrated, for instance, inFig. 1. As there shown, the heating rolls, such as heating roll I, carryin their center the substantially stationary wall or baffle 50 dividingthe roll into two substantially equal halves. In'each half a number ofcones 5Ia, 5Ib and 5Ic are mounted onto the central axle by way of theflanged supports 52. Each cone carries a central opening 53 and theopenings of successive cones are progressively smaller with the largestcone-opening at the outer end of the roll and the smallest cone openingnear the center of the roll. The cones are mounted in spacedrelationship to the inner wall of the roll. Strengthening cross-braces54 are provided within the rolls at the outer portions thereof. Theroller shafts are mounted in the bearings 55 and 55a respectively. Aseries of scroll or expansion rollers 56, 51 and 58 (with conventionalexpansion grooving) are mounted within housing 3 and serve the properguiding, extending and/or positioning of the traveling fabric web. Theexpansion rollers are preferably geared for a circumferential linearspeed approximately 5-20% in excess of the circumferential linear speedsof the rolls I and 2. Gear wheel 59 (Fig. l) is keyed to roll shaft Maand is driven by the meshing gear 60, driven by suitable motor 6|. "Gear59 meshes with gear 62 bearin supported and rotatable on shaft 58 (Fig.5). Gear I52 engages gear 64 keyed to roll shaft I4. Sprockets 65 and 66(Figs. 5 and 6) are keyed to shafts 56 and 51 respectively;

sprocket 81 is secured to gear 52, freely rotatable with the same onshaft 58. Chain 68 establishes the driving connection between sprocketsB5, 66, and 61 for rotation of their respective scroll rollers. Sprocket81, keyed to lower scroll shaft 51, drives scroll shaft 58 by way ofchain 68a and sprocket 88 keyed on scroll shaft 58.

In the practical application of the invention a web of textile materialas, for instance, on feed roller 34 (Fig. 2), is fed by way of the guiderollers 69 and I and scroll 56 through the slot 22 and onto roll Ipassing underneath lower surface 6 of duct 5. The fabric web indicatedby the numeral ll passes from upper roll i over scroll 58 and lower roll2, passing the latter beneath the nozzled surface 6a. of duct a. The webpasses from roll 2 around scroll 51 out through the slot 22 onto coolingroll 32 by way of the guide rolls I2 and I3. The cooling roll is of theconventional hollow type provided with a circulating cooling watersystem (not shown). The fabric passes from the cooling rool over guide Honto the pickup roll 36 on shaft 35. Angle portions 23 extend over atleast the width of the fabric web. They are vertically adjustable andare set with their smooth rounded portions to substantially tangentiallyengage the feeding and discharging web portions respectively. A guideroller 23a acts as a separator for the feeding and discharging webportions and is mounted to essentially form, with the angle portions 23,a seal against the passage of excessive amounts of cold air into theheating zone through slot 22. Fig. 2 illustrates the operation after anew roll of textile material has just been started. In that case roll 34is fairly full with the pickup roll 36 relatively small. The situationas it occurs near the end of the original feed roll 34 is illustrated indotted outline. In that case the feed roll will be relatively small andthe pickup roll will be relatively large.

The burners 24 and 24a heat the air or other heating gas within thehousing 3 and the fan [5 forces the air into the duct system of theinner housing. A portion of the air passes straight through and out ofthe centrally located nozzles I and 1a near the scroll 58. Otherportions of the air are deflected by the various baffles 9, 9a, l0,Illa, being forced out through the various nozzles I, la in the ductsurfaces 6 and 6a of the ducts 5 and 5a. Still another portion of theair, forced into and through the duct system, is branched off into theducts H and lid respectively, passing thence through conduits l2 and l2arespectively and out of the flared duct openings l3 and 13a. The airissuing from the duct openings l3 and Ba will in part go through thecone openings, ultimately reaching and being deflected from the innerplate 50 to and outwardly along the inner periphery of the roll. Byreason of the inwardly decreasing size of the cone openings, a portionof the air is defiecte by each cone along the baffled cone surface andagainst the inner periphery of the roll. The air flows outwardly alongthe inner periphery of the roll into the outer space 15 within housing3, being thence drawn back into the fan l5. The nozzles I and la are soshaped and dimensioned that they supply a relatively uniform forcedheating gas current over substantially the entire width of the fabricand the nozzles are preferably radially positioned with respect to thecircumference of the rolls defining essentially radial slots extendingsubstantially across the width of the fabric web and substantiallyparallel to the axis of rotation of the respective rolls. Thetemperature of the .36 to 144 yards per minute.

air or other heating gas in thermostatically controlled to maintain apredetermined temperature or temperature range, the thermostatic elementbeing diagrammatically illustrated as 16 (Fig. 2). The air orotherheating gas forced out of the nozzles and directed against thetravelling fabric web is forced out of the open sides 11 and 11a and theopen ends 18 and 18a (Figs. 1 and 3) into the space 15 within housing 3,being thence also passed back into the fan l5 for recirculation throughthe system. After a certain period of operation an undesirableconcentration of combustion gases and/or moisture may obtain in theheating gas which is recirculated through the system. In that event theexhaust 21 is used to draw off any desired amount of heating gas andpreferably up to not in excess of 30%. Suitable provision should be madefor replenishing the amount of exhausted heating gas. If air is used asthe heating medium the same may be replenished, within certain limits,by outside air leaking in at various places including the slot 22. Itis, however, recommended to provide a separate air inlet for thereplenishment of exhausted heating air, such as the hinged panel door(Fig. 3). A conventional air heating element (not shown) is preferablypositioned within the inlet for the purpose of preheating the admittedair. There will thus be a minimum of interference with the desiredtemperature or temperature range to be maintained within the system. Inmany cases it is desirable and of advantage to pre-set the exhaust to agiven rate and coordinate therewith the admission of make-up air tothereby automatically prevent undesirable accu mulation of moistureand/or combustion gases.

The motor, such as motor 6|, used for driving the rolls is preferably avariable speed motor. Alternatively any other conventional variablespeed drive arrangement may be used. The rate of travel of the fabricweb through the housing or heating zone must be carefully predeterminedfor the given fabric and a given finish to be obtained and to that endshould be coordinated with the particular temperature or temperaturerange at which the heating is conducted. Thus a given treatment may callfor a heating of the fabric at a given temperature or within a giventemperature range for a given period of time. The speed of rotation ofthe rolls should then be so adjusted that the fabric web travels overthe rolls and in and out of the housing in a period of time assuringthat no part of the web has remained within the heating zone longer thanthe predetermined period. For this reason the provision of suitablecooling means, such as a cooling surface and/or an applicator for fluidrefrigeram, is important in that it immediately removes any heat fromthe fabric web that may have any continuing effect and would thus tendto spoil the results obtained within the heating zone.

Within the preferred embodiment of my invention the web is fed throughthe heating zone, i. e., in the case of the device here illustrated,through the housing at a rate of speed of approximately The temperaturewithin the heating zone is maintained, dependent upon the particulartype of material used, at a predetermined temperature or temperaturerange, i. e. specifically for polyamide material at about 400450 F. andheating gas current is directed onto the fabric web as it travelsthrough the heating zone, preferably at a velocity of an order ofmagnitude of at least 400 feet per minute.

Satisfactory results are obtained when causing 7 the heating gas currentto be directed onto the fabric web at a velocity of an order ofmagnitude from 400-4000 feet per minute.

Instead of using a multiple roll arrangement as illustrated, forinstance, in the drawings, a single web carrier or roll may be provided.Thus, in the preferred embodiment of my novel device, an auxiliary guideroll 9| is provided, permitting the fabric web to be carried over asingle roll. In such case the fabric would travel from scroll 56 overroll I and thence out of slot 22 over guide roll 9i direct to guide roll13. This is illustrated in the drawings by the broken outline of thefabric as shown in Fig. 2.

In its broadest aspect the device in accordance with the inventionessentially comprises means defining a heating zone, means defining apredetermined path of travel for a heat settable textile materialthrough said heating zone, means for continuously passing such materialthrough said heating zone along said path of travel in from one to tenseconds, means for substantially continuously propelling heating gascurrent of a velocity of at least 400 feet per minute into said heatingzone along at least the major portion of said. path of travel to impingesubstantially uniformly upon the material from at least one side thereofas it is passed through said zone, and means for substantiallymaintaining the temperature of the impinging heating gas current and thetemperature within said heating zone, on substantially all sides of saidmaterial, at a predetermined heat setting temperature for said material.

Within the broad concept of the preferred embodiment of the invention,the device essentially comprises at least one endlessly movable carrier,preferably a rotatable roller, defining a web carrying surface, meansfor substantially defining a heating zone for said surface over at leasta portion thereof, means for passing a web of heat settable textilematerial into said zone onto and along a portion of said surface in webcarrying engagement therewith, and at a rate of speed for 1-10 secondsweb exposure to said heating zone, means for temperature controllablyheating at least the web engaging portion of said surface to apredetermined heat setting temperature for such material of at least 300F., high velocity heating gas nozzle means positioned and shaped todirect high velocity heating gas to within said space onto and over atleast part of such web engaging portion to substantially the webcarrying width thereof, means for substantially cont.'nuously propellingheating gas current of a nozzle velocity in excess of 400 feet perminute through said nozzle means, means for substantially maintainingthe temperature of the high velocity heating gas current in said heatingzone at a predetermined heat setting temperature for such material of atleast 300 F., and

.means for passing such web off said surface and out of said space.

Further within the broad concept of the preferred embodiment of theinvention the means for heating the web engaging surface portionpreferably comprise a heating space within the web carrier in heatexchange relation to at least the web engaging surface portion and thelength of the heating zone is preferably dimensioned, in cooperationwith the web passing means, for web travel through the heating zone at arate of linear speed of 36-144 yards per minute.

Though air is the preferred heating gas useful in the practice of myinvention, it is possible and sometimes advisable within the dictates ofspecial conditions and circumstances to use another gas, and preferablyan inert gas, as the heating medium. This is particularly recommended inthose cases where particular tints or shades tend to heat-oxidation, inwhich case impairment of the shades can be avoided by the use of anonoxidizing heating medium.

Though the device in accordance with the invention has been specificallyexemplified in connection with the heat-setting of polyamide materials,the same has proven useful for the heatsetting of other textilematerials and particularly those for which heat-treatment isconventionally resorted to for the procurement of a particular result orfinish. Experience has proven that in many of these cases the device inaccordance with the invention has rendered such finishing treatmentsmore efllcient and economical and less subject to operator's controlthan was hitherto possible with conventional methods or devices, and inmany of these cases the use of the device in accordance with theinvention for these special heat-treating purposes, has made it possiblefor the first time to subject the goods to the particular heat-treatmentat high operational speeds.

A specific example of the usefulness of the novel device for theheat-setting of goods other than the heat-setting of polyamides is, forinstance, the heat-treatment of acetates. In this case a fabric webconsisting of or containing acetate fibers is fed into, for instance,the device illustrated herein at speeds between 36-144 yards per minuteand a total exposure time of l-10 seconds, with the temperature withinthe heating zone between 300 F.-360 F. A very desirable chintz-likeglazing effect is obtained in this manner. For the purpose therefore ofassuring the greatest flexibility and range of usefulness of my noveldevice, I prefer to have the heat control thereof cover a range of from300 F. or lower to about 500 F. or higher.

The foregoing description is for purposes of illustration and not oflimitation, and it is, therefore, my intention that the invention belimited only by the appended claims or their equivalent wherein I haveendeavored to claim broadly all inherent novelty.

I claim:

1. Device for the heat setting of textile materials which comprisesmeansdefining a heating zone, means defining a predetermined path oftravel for a heat settable textile material through said heating zone,means for continuously passing such material through said heating zonealong said path of travel in from 1-10 seconds, means for substantiallycontinuously propelling heating gas current of a velocity of at least400 feet per minute into said heating zone along at least the majorportion of said path of travel to impinge substantially uniformly uponthe material from at least one side thereof as it is passed through saidzone, and means for substantially maintaining the temperature of theimpinging heating gas current and the temperature within said heatingzone, on substantially all sides of said material, at a predeterminedheat setting temperature for said material.

2. Device in accordance with claim 1 in which said last mentioned meansare arranged to substantially maintain a. predetermined heat settingtemperature of at least 300 F.

3. Device in accordance with claim 2 in which there is additionallyprovided means for cooling said material upon leaving said heating zone.

4. Device in accordance with claim 2 in which said temperaturemaintaining means are arranged to substantially maintain a predeterminedheat setting temperature between BOO-500 F.

5. Device in accordance with claim 4 in which the length of said heatingzone is dimensioned in cooperation with said passing means for materialtravel through said heating zone at a rate of linear speed of about36-144 yards per minute.

6. Device for the heat setting of textile materials which comprisesmeans defining a heating zone, means defining a predetermined path oftravel of a heat settable web of textile material through said heatingzone and including endlessly movable web carrier means, means fordriving said web carrier means at a rate of speed to expose each portionof such web to said heating zone for from 1-10 seconds, means forsubstantially continuously propelling heating gas current of avelocityof at least 400 feet per minute into said heating zone along atleast a major portion of said path of travel to impinge substantiallyuniformly upon at least one side of the moving web, means forsubstantially maintaining the temperature of the impinging heating gascurrent and the temperature within said heating zone, on substantiallyall sides of the said web, at a predetermined heat setting temperaturefor said material of at least 300 F., and means at the exit end of saidheating zone for continuously and rapidly cooling such web to below itsheat setting temperature.

7. Device in accordance with claim 6 in which said temperaturemaintaining means are arranged to substantially maintain a heat settingtemperture of between 300-500 F., and in which the length of saidheating zone is dimensioned in cooperation with said driving means forweb travel through said heating zone at a rate of linear speed of 36-144yards per minute.

8. Device for the heat setting of textile materials which comprises atleast one endlessly movable carrier defining a web carrying surface,means substantially defining a heating zone for said surface or at leasta portion thereof, means for passing a web of heat settable textilematerial into said zone onto and along a portion of said surface in webcarrying engagement therewith, and at a rate of speed for 1-10 secondsweb exposure to said heating zone, means for temperature controllablyheating at least the web engaging portion of said surface to apredetermined heat setting temperature for such material of at least 300F., high velocity heating gas nozzle means positioned and shaped todirect high velocity heating gas to Within said space onto and over atleast part of such web engaging portion to substantially the webcarrying width thereof, means for substantially continuously propellingheating gas current of a nozzle velocity in excess of 400 feet perminute through said nozzle means, means for substantially maintainingthe temperature of the high velocity heating gas current in said heatingzone at a predetermined heat setting temperature for such material of atleast 300 F.. and means for passing such web off said surface and out ofsaid space.

9. Device in accordance with claim 8 in which said means for heatingsaid web engaging surface portion comprises a heating space within saidcarrier in heat exchange relation to at least said web engaging surfaceportion, and in which the length of said heating zone is dimensioned incooperation with said web passing means for web trav '1 through saidheating zone at a. rate of linear speed of 36-144 yards per minute.

10. Device ior the heat setting of textile materials which comprises atleast one substantially hollow, substantially open ended, rotatableroller of substantially heat conductive material and defining a webcarrying surface, a housing substantially enclosing said rollersubstantially in spaced relation to the roller ends, means for passing aweb of heat-settable textile material into said housing onto and oversaid roller, in web carrying engagement with a portion of said surface,means for temperature controllably supplying heating gas to the interiorof said roller in heat exchange flow with the inner peripheral surfaceof said roller, a multiple number of high velocity heating-gas nozzleswithin said housing arranged substantially equally distant from and overat least part of such web engaging portion to direct high velocityheating gas onto and over substantially said'web engaging portion tosubstantially the web carrying width thereof, means for substantiallycontinuously propelling heating gas current of a nozzle velocity inexcess of 400 feet per minute through said nozzles, means forsubstantially maintaining .the temperature of the heating gas suppliedto said roller interior and the temperature of the high velocity heatinggas current issuing from said nozzles at a predetermined heat settingtemperature for such material of at least 300 F., means for passing suchweb off said surface and out of said housing, and substantiallycoordinated means for rotating said roller and passing said web out ofsaid housing at a predetermined rate of speed for web travel throughsaid housing in from 1-10 seconds, the length of web travel through saidhousing being dimensioned in cooperation with said coordinating meansfor web travel through said housing at a rate of linear speed of 36-144yards per minute. 11. Device in accordance with claim 10 in whichadditionally means are provided for cooling such web upon passing out ofsaid housing.

12. Device in accordance with claim 11 in which each of said nozzlesextends substantially parallel to the roller axis for substantially theweb carrying width of said roller, in which the interior of said rolleris provided with baiile means arranged and dimensioned to deflect airsubstantially uniformly to substantially all parts of said innerperipheral surface and out of the roller ends, in which said means forsupplying heating gas to said roller interior are positioned todischarge heating gas onto said bafiie means,

. in which heating gas is supplied to said nozzles and to said rollerinterior by gas ducts substantially branching from a substantiallycommon duct, in which there are additionally provided means forrecycling into said common duct heating gas discharged into the housingfrom the interior of said roller and from the web engaging portion ofsaid roller, and in which said temperature maintaining means aresubstantially located in said common duct.

13. Device for the heat setting of textile materials which comprises afirst and second rotatable roller, each substantially hollow and openended, and of substantially heat conductive material, and defining a webcarrying surface, both of said rollers being positioned with their axessubstantially parallel and with their web carrying surfaces insubstantial alignment, means for passing a web of heat-settable textilematerial into-said housing onto the first of said rollers and over bothof said rollers, as to eachof said 9 alaliji 4.1

rollefiim web carrying engagement with a portion of its surface, meansfor temperature con- 'Trollably supplying heating gas to the interior ofeach roller in heat exchange flow with the inner peripheral surface ofeach roller. 9. first and second set of a multiple number of highvelocity heating-gas nozzles within said housing, one set for each ofsaid rollers and the nozzles of each set arranged substantially equallydistant from and over at least part of the web engaging portion of itsroller surface to direct high velocity heating gas onto and over thesame to substantially the web carrying width of its roller, means forsubstantiallycontinuously propelling heating gas current of a nozzlevelocity in excess of 400 feet per minute through said nozzles, meansfor substantially maintaining the temperature of the heating gassupplied to said roller interior and the temperature of the highvelocity heating gas current issuing from said nozzles at apredetermined heat setting temperature for such material of from 300-500F., means for passing such web 011 the web carrying surface of saidsecond roller and out of said housing. and substantially coordinatedmeans for rotating at least one of said rollers, and passing said webout of said housing at a predetermined rate of speed for web travelthrough said housing in from 1-10 seconds, the length of. web travelthrough said housing being dimensioned in cooperation with saidcoordinating means for web travel through said housing at a rate oflinear speed of 36-144 yards per minute.

14. Device in accordance with claim 13 in which additionally means areprovided for cooling such web upon passing out of said housing.

15. Device in accordance with claim 14 in which each of said nozzles ofeach set extends substantially parallel its roller axis forsubstantially the web carrying width of its roller, in which theinterior of each roller is provided with baiile means arranged anddimensioned to deflect air substantially uniformly to substantially allparts of the inner peripheral surface of the roller and out of theroller ends, in which said 12 means for supplying heating gas to theinterior of each roller are positioned as to each roller to dischargeheating gas onto the baffle means within the roller, in which heatinggas is supplied to said sets of nozzles and to the interior of eachroller by gas ducts substantially branching from a common duct, and inwhich there are additionally provided means for recycling into saidcommon duct heating gas discharged into the housing from the interior ofeach roller and from the web engaging portion of each roller and inwhich said temperature maintaining means are I substantially located insaid common duct.

18. Device in accordance with claim 15 in which said heating gaspropelling means propel through said nozzles heating gas current of angezzle velocity of from 400-4000 feet per minu 17. Device in accordancewith claim 18 in which said temperature maintaining means are arrangedto substantially maintain a heat setting temperature of about from400-450 F.

' WELDON G. HELMUS.

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